A Scots teenager is aiming to become the youngest mountaineer to climb all 14 of the 8,000m peaks in the Himalayas. Alasdair embarked on this incredible journey when he was just 17, scaling the Lhotse and Makalu peaks in 2022 and an astounding ten more this year alone - The 29th September, he completed the Dhaulagiri, 8167m. He now has just two summits remaining in Tibet - Cho Oyu and Shishapangma. Alasdair, who has dual British and French citizenship, is determined to show the younger generation that 'Anything is Possible' and that anyone can Scale the Height Of Your Ambition.'
Alasdair, who tirelessly worked and sought sponsors to raise funds to obtain the permit to conquer the 14 Himalayan peaks, created this expedition with the mantra: "Scale the height of your ambition."
“This challenge has pushed me to surpass my physical, mental and emotional limits. It’s beyond anything I’ve ever known before. I have just two summits to climb, which I’m aiming to do in spring 2024. It’s been a lot of hard work but I’m extremely motivated because I’m doing what I love. I want to prove to my generation that with determination and optimism, anything is possible."
"We all have the capability to achieve our dreams and you can seek to scale the height of your ambition.”
As the project progressed, Alasdair went from strength to strength, shattering world records. Most tellingly, in just one year, he became the youngest mountaineer to have climbed the 5 highest peaks in the world and has achieved 4 Guinness World records.
Picture this: Alasdair’s incredible journey saw him conquer five x 8,000-metre summits in Pakistan in less than 26 days this summer ! Alasdair reflects on his connection to the mountains, saying, "Being on the mountains has changed my life."
He initially learned to ski in the Cairngorms in Aviemore, igniting a lifelong passion for mountains. As he explored Nepal and its towering peaks, he realised that merely reaching their summits wasn't enough -he needed to conquer all 14.
With just two peaks remaining to complete his audacious mission, Alasdair's determination remains unwavering. He will do them in April next year. He's set to secure his place in the record books as the youngest mountaineer to scale all 14 of the Himalayan giants. This challenge, testing his physical, mental, and emotional limits, has become an integral part of his life, and he's resolute in achieving his dream.
To date, here are all his ascents:
Dhaulagiri 8167 m - September 29, 2023
Manaslu 8163 m - September 21, 2023
Annapurna 8091m - April 15, 2023 - holds the Guinness World Record for the youngest to ever summit it.
Everest 8849m - May 16, 2023
Kanchenjunga 8586m - June 1, 2023 - hold the Guinness World Record for the youngest to ever summit it.
Nanga Parbat 8126m - July 2, 2023
Gasherbrum G1 8068m - July 17, 2023
Gasherbrum G2 8034m - July 21, 2023
Broad Peak 8047m - July 25, 2023
K2 8611m - July 28, 2023
Lhotse 8516m - May 15, 2022 – he holds the Guinness World Record for the youngest to ever summit it.
Makalu 8485m - May 24, 2022
It's worth noting that only a handful of individuals have ever completed the 8,000-meter peaks challenge. Still, Alasdair McKenzie is poised to etch his name into history as the youngest to accomplish this awe-inspiring feat, proving that with unwavering determination, one can indeed reach the highest summits of their ambitions.